Hajj Time

Visible in the center right, the crowds of people in Mecca for the Hajj, which draws over three million people annually and simultaneously. The pilgrimage is centered on the al-Haram Mosque, home of the cube-like Kaaba, the most sacred site in Islam.

Mecca now also holds the distinction of being home to the world’s tallest clock tower. The 601-meter crescent-shaped spire is also among the top ten tallest buildings in the world. It is part of the Abraj Al-Bait Towers, completed in 2012.

The Abraj Al-Bait Towers are part of a larger development effort in Mecca. It remains to be seen if the new development can strike a balance between exuberant, luxury-oriented architecture and the infrastructural improvements necessary for the ever-growing yearly pilgrimage.